Character Quote by Michael Frayn
“I've never written a fiction before about real people. . . . I read everything that I could find by people who met them and tried to get some impression of them, but as always when you write fiction, even if you have completely fictitious characters, you start by thinking of what is plausible, what would they say, what would they be likely to do, what would they be likely to think. At some point, if it is every going to come to life, the characters seem to take over and start speaking themselves, and it happened with [COPENHAGEN].”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Unknown source
Fiction draws from reality, but imagination ultimately guides the narrative voice.
In simple terms: Writers use real details to shape believable stories.
Key Takeaway
Balance research with creative freedom.
Themes
fiction
research
creativity
Mood
analytical
inspirational
Type
literary
process-oriented
When to use this quote
- writing
- historical fiction
- character creation
Key Concepts
narrative technique
character development
Questions to Reflect On
- When does research become a hindrance?
- How do characters “take over” in your process?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on facts can stifle imagination.
